Upper Lip Lift & Gummy Smile

A properly performed lip lift procedure brings multiple benefits. As we age, the upper lip tends to stretch and lengthen due to gravity, just like other parts of your face. This typically results in the red part of the lip “rolling” inward, giving the appearance of thinning. Additionally, the upper lip drops down and covers the upper teeth, which can make the mouth appear more aged. By shortening the upper lip, these changes are reversed, and the midface gains a lifted and more youthful appearance. The increased “red show” also gives the lip a permanently fuller appearance, which is often desired even in younger patients.

There are several techniques that have been used over the years to perform a lip lift. The original descriptions involve removing skin just above the lip, where the pink portion meets the skin. This can be done on the central part of the lip (“Cupid’s bow”) or at the corners, depending on which parts need to be lifted. More modern techniques place the incision just under the nose, allowing the resulting scar to be less visible. A small strip of skin is removed and the area is carefully closed with sutures. The “modified” upper lip lift is the most advanced technique to date and includes more lip release and more stable suspension to create a natural, longer-lasting result.

You may be a good candidate for a lip lift if you feel that the distance between your nose and lip is too great or that your upper lip is relatively thin. Often, patients who are good candidates for a lip lift may have had a poor experience previously with lip fillers, which made the lips appear heavy and long instead of full and balanced.

As mentioned above, lip lifting is a very simple and straightforward surgical procedure that can be done alone or in combination with other facial procedures (rhinoplasty, facelift, etc.). The procedure begins with markings on the skin of the upper lip, based on the surgical plan that you design together with the surgeon. Then, numbing medication is injected into the area similar to a dental procedure. Once ready, the necessary portion of skin just under the nose is gently removed and any minor bleeding is controlled. The incision is then closed with many small sutures to create the best possible result. Following the procedure, the area is kept covered with antibiotic ointment and the sutures are removed starting a few days later.

If lip lifting is the only procedure you are having, then it can easily be done under local anesthesia alone, just like a dental operation. However, if lip lifting is combined with additional procedures that require deeper anesthesia, then it would simply be included in the overall plan.